Automobile bed attachment



June 8 1926.

T. 'HARRIS ET AL AUTOMOBILE BED ATTACHMENT Filed Nov. 1. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 8 1926. 1,587,774

T. HARRIS ET AL AUTOMOBILE BED ATTACHMENT Filed Nov. 1. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Ffarrz's (lam-M01 4 June 8 ,.1926.

v T. HARRIS ET AL AUTOMOBILE BED ATTACHMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 arrz'a Mama s Filed Nov. 1. 1923 Fatented June 3, i925.

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AUTOMOBILE BED ATTACHMENT.

Application filed November 1, 1923. Serial No. 672,165.

Our invention relates to bed attachments for automobiles, of the type carried by the running board .when idle and extensible from the machine for use.

One object is to provide a novel bed structure which can be used to equal advantage when attached to the machine or when detached therefrom for camp use.

A further aim is to provide a structure whichis usable on the running board of the machine, to form an effective luggage carrier when not in use as a bed.

Other objects are to make novel provision for connecting the bed with the running board; to rovide for effectively stretching the sling and holding it in stretched condition; to provide for adjustment to take up slack in the sling; and to provide unique detachable connections between the side rails oi the bed and the head and foot rails, of such nature as to prevent spreading of said side rails.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the bed extended from the running board of an auto mobile.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through the running board and a side elevation of the bed.

Figure 3 is a detail longitudinal sectional view through the foot structure of the bed, showing the manner of moving the foot rail to stretch the sling.

Figure l is a perspective view showing the relation oi parts disclosed in Fig. 8.

Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figs.

3 and 4 respectively, but showing the relation of parts when the foot rail is in operative position.

Figure 7 is aperspective view of one of the attaching clamps.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the head rail.

Figures 9 and 10 are respectively, a fragmentary plan view and a fragmentary side elevation, showing the alterations made in the bed when it is used in camp.

Figure 11 is a sectional view on line llfll of Fig; 9. v

-Figuna 12 is a view. similar to, Fig; 11 but showing the legged extension detached from the siderail with which it coroperates.

Figures 13 and 1d are perspective views showingthe preferred manner of forming the side rails of detachably connected sections.

Figure 15 is a perspective view showing the manner of assembling the head structure of the bed for camp use.

Figure 16 is a view similar to Fig. 15 but illustrating thehead structure completely assembled.

Figure 17 is a plan View showing the bed folded upon the running board for use as aluggage carrier. 7

Figure 18 is a side elevation vith the several parts in the positions disclosed in Fig. 17.

In the drawings above briefly described, which illustrate the preferred form oi" construction, the numerals 1 designate a pair of attaching clamps adapted to be. secured upon an automobile running board 2, each. clamp having a top plate 3 to extend across said running board. The outer ends of the plates 3 areprovided with rigid upstanding pins 4 which are instrumental in connecting a pair of side rails 5 with the plates 3, the head ends of said side rails, being each formed with a plurality of spaced openings 6 for receiving the pins 4:, each rail being formed with a number of these openings so that it may be moved outwardly or inwardly as occasion may demand, according to the amount of slack in the sling, yet to be described. Each side rail 5 is preferably formed of angle iron or steel and in most instances, particularly for small cars, con sists of two overlapping sections 7 and U, the section 7 being provided with an angular lip 9 to engage the inner end of the sec; tion 8, while the last named section is provided with a similar lip 10 to engage the adjacent end of the section 7. Thus, the two sections are rigidly held inoperative rela tion, but by relative sliding, may he disc-on:

nested from each other.

place. Tliishead rail is of angular cross apt V see ion nd it riz ntal -dense It is led m slide u derthe, fin ers 1 able other flange then extends vertically upward. the ends of the flange 1 1 are bent upwardly as indicated at 16 and the ends or" the vertical flange 15 extend beyond the portions 16, as indicated at IT.

A sling 18 formed of canvas or any otherdesired material, is connected with the head rail 13, the connection being preferably established by means of coiled springs 19 hooked in openings in the flange 1 1 and in other openings in a reinforcing bar 20 in the upper end of said sling. Obviously, it desired, a linked metal sling could be used.

Reference is now made more particularly to Figs. 3, e, and 6, from which views, it will be seen that a vertically swinging sling stretching arm 21 is pivoted to the vertical flange of the foot section 7 of each side rail 5, the pivot being indicated by the numeral Each arm 21 is of the same cross sectional shape as the side rail 5 and its horizontal flange 23 which is adapted to lie upon the corresponding flange of the side rail, is provided at its upper side with a rigid finger 2st which extends in the opposite direction from the finger 11 at the opposite end of the bed. The fingers 24 are intended to overlie. the ends of a foot rail 25 to which the foot end of the sling 18 is attached. By swinging the arms 21 upwardly when the foot rail is being engaged with the fingers 2i and then swinging said arms downwardly "from the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to the position disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6, it will be seen that the sling 18 will be effectively stretched. Novel means are provided for holding the arms 21 in lowered operative position.

We have shown angle metal legs 26 pivoted at 27 to the toot ends of the side rail sections 7 so that they may be folded under said sections as shown in Figs. 3 and 1 or may be swung downwardly to operative positions as disclosed in Figs. 5 and The upper ends 01 these legs are provided with flanges 28 which overlie the free ends of the arms 21 when the latter are lowered and the legs are swung to upright position. Thus, the arms 21 are held in operative position and the flanges 28 brace the legs 26 in one direction, said legs being braced in the other direction by suitable brace rods 29 engaged with the foot rail 25 and with said legs.

To prevent the side rails 5 from spreading at the toot of the bed, we provide the ends of the foot rail 25 with upstanding stops 30 to contact with the outer sides of the fingers 24, and provide the vertical flanges of the arms 21, with downturned hook flanges 31 to embrace the vertical flanges of the side rail sections 7.

"When the bed is to bedetached from the running board and used in camp, theside rails 5 are disconnected from the pins 4'. and

For a purpose to hereinafter appear,v

the head rail 13 is disengaged from the fingers 11. Angle metal extensions 32 (Figs. 9 to 12 and'15 and 16) are engaged with the head sections 8 of the side rails 5, these sections 8 being provided with lips to engage the inner ends ot the GXtQDSlOHS 32,

while said extensions are formed with fingers 31 to engage the outer ends of the sections 8. establishing detachable telescopic connections between said extensions and sections. Angular legs are pivoted at 36 to the outer ends of the extensions and may be provided with suitable detachable braces 37. When these legs are swung to operative positions, the head rail 13 may be engaged with the extensions The horizontal flange ll of the rail 13 is intended to be inserted bcneath outwardly extending fingers 38 with which the extensions 32 are provided, and the extended ends 17 of the vertical flange 15 of the rail 13, then contacts with the outer sides of the legs 35. The upturned ends 16 of the flange 14, constitute stops which abut the outer sides of the fingers 38 and thus hold the head of the bed against spreading. Suitable braces %0 preferably connect the legs with the head rail 13.

l v hen the bed is to be folded upon the running board 2, the several parts are dis connected from each other and the two side rails 5 are disposed. longitudinally upon the running board. One of the pins 4t is then received in certain of the openings 6 of the two side rails, and these rails are provided with other openings 40 to receive the other pin 4. Thus, the rails are held upon the running board and we prefer to provide one of these rails with a suitable open-work railing or wall intended to extend upwardly from the running board to constitute a luggage car rier. This wall formed of two sections 41 and 4-2 carried respectively by the side rail sections 7 and 8. On comparatively long machines, the sections 7 and 8 never have to be disconnected from each other, but on automobiles having shorter running boards, it is necessary to disconnect said sections. Then, it will be obvious that additional openings 43 formed in the side rails 5 must be used to receive the pins *1 when the device as used as a luggage carrier.

in folding the bed, it will. be seen that the foot rai may be disconnected from the arms 21, that these arms and the legs 26 may be compactly folded against the side rails a, and that said side rails may be then bodily removed from the running board, or disconnected from the extensions 32, as the case may be. The sling and the head and foot rails may be rolled together and held in place by engaging the fingers 11 with the head rail 13, as disclosed in Fig. 17, and if the extensions 32 have been used, their legs 36 may be folded against them and they may be'placed" upon tl' e running boarder int-he machine, together with the detachable braces.

As excellent results are obtainable from the details disclosed, they are preferably followed, but within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous changes may be made.

ll e claim:

1. An attachment "for an automobile bed of a type comprising a pair of side rails, means for detachably connecting the head ends of said rails with an automobile running board, a sling, a sling-supporting head rail and means for detachably connecting said head rail to the running board; said attachment comprising relatively short side rail xtensions and means for detachably connecting them with the head ends of said side rails when the latter are detached from the running board, legs pivoted to the inner end portions of said side rail extensions and movable at times substantially into a plane with the extensions, and means carried by said legged extensions for then holding said head rail.

An automobile bed comprising a pair of attaching plates adapted for connection to an automobile running board, a head rail and means for separably connecting it to said plates, :1 foot structure, a sling adapted. to extend between saic toot structure and said head rail, a transverse bar fixed to one end oi the sling and yieldably connected to the head rail, a pair of side rails to extend between said foot structure and said attaching plates and each having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings in one end, and rigid pins rising from said attaching plates for reception in said openings according to the am unt of slack in the sling.

3. A bed of the class described comorising a pair of side rails each having a rertical flange and a horizontal flange, supporting legs pivoted to said side rails at one end thereof, a sling, a sling-supporting head rail having a vertical flange for contact with the outer sides of said legs, said end rail also having a horizontal flange to rest upon the horizontal flanges of said side rails, and means for detachably connecting the hori zontal flanges of said side and end rails.

-fl. A bed of the class described comprising a pair of side rails each having a vertical flange and a horizontal flange, supporting legs pivoted to said side rails at one end thereof, a sling, a sling-supporting head rail having a vertical flange tor contact with the outer sides of said legs, said head rail also having a horizontal flange to rest upon the horizontal flanges of said side rails. and rigid horizontal fingers secured to the horiside rails, and means carried by said legs and mo able into engagement with said V arms to hold the latter lowered when said legs are extended for use.

(3. A bed oi the class described comprising a pair of side rails each having a horizontal flange and a vertical flange rising im the later, a sling, a pair of slingicliing arms each having a h rizontal mnge and a vertical flange rising from the r, mear pivoting the vertical flanges arms to the vertical flanges of said rails rest gectively, rigid lingers secured to the her sontal flanges of said arms and extending away from the pivots of said arms, and end rail whose ends are adapted to tit under said lingers and are :tormed with stops to abut the outer sides of said fingers, to hold said arms against spreading, down wardly extending hool: flanges on the vertical flanges oi said arms to embrace the vertical flanges of said side rails and hold the latter against spreading, and means for holding said arms in lowered position.

'5. A combined automobile bed and luggage carrier comprising side rails acapted to extend laterally from an automobile, means for connecting said rails with the runn'ng board in parallel relation with the automobile body when the bed is not in use, and a luggage retaining wall car .ed by one of said rails and adapted. to extend upwardly from the running board,'in spaced parallel relation with the automobile body.

8. An automobile bed comprising a pair of pins and means for securing them in up standing positions on the ends of an automobile .running board, and side rails adapted to extend. laterally from the running board, sa d rails having openings in one end to receive said pins when said rails are on tended for use, said openings being adapted to receive one of said pins when the rails n'ierelv lie idle on the running board, said rails having additional openings to then receive the other pin.

In testimony whereof we. have hcreunto a'liixcd our signatures.

THEODGBE HARRIS. GRANT HARRIS.

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